My election day gift to lower your stress level

Let’s face it, the 2016 election has been a nightmare. The animosity, hatred and immature bullying has reached a sad new low. The process has so divided and polarized our nation that many Americans, myself included, are stressed and worried about the future of our country. I happen to catch 60 Minutes on Sunday night and they reported that 82 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with BOTH candidates. It’s hard to make sense of how we ended up with two candidates that the majority of Americans either distrust or down right hate.

What I do when I get really stressed is take my camera, or these days my iPhone, and escape. I get out in nature, go to a museum or stroll through a city or a previously unexplored part of town. My stress level is lowered as I focus on my environment and on creating an image. Yesterday I took my iPhone and headed to the Massachusetts Orchid Show. Flowers are universally appealing and no matter which candidate you are voting for or against, my gift to you are these calming orchids.

Take a few deep breaths, relax and focus on the beauty of these amazing creations of nature. (All images were taken with my iPhone)

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Linda Holt Photo

Now I know many of you are wondering how I took these photos. The reality is that the orchid show was crowded with people and there were tags and prize ribbons hanging from most of the orchids.This is what the orchids actually looked like.

How the displayed looked

and this is how most of the orchids looked as I moved my iPhone in close to photograph them. In almost every case there was a distracting back ground that took away from the beauty of the flower.

Next week I will share with you the exact steps I took to create the Orchid images above.

Lastly, hang in there everyone. The US election will soon be over (and may be over by the time you are reading this post) and no matter what the outcome we must remember we are all in this together. We all care about our our country and our children and grand children’s future and we somehow must find a way to work together as American’s and stop the hatred that is tearing our country apart.

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14 Comments

Amy Mitchell
on November 7, 2016 at 1:27 pm

Thanks for this lovely post, Linda! It certainly feels like dark times, lately. Wonderful to remember there is such beauty — of all kinds — in this world if we take a moment to notice it.